Germany Weighs Extending Hours;
Bourse to Discuss Issue With Banks

LONDON -- Deutsche Boerse AG will meet with representatives of major banks Wednesday to discuss extending its trading day by two-and-a-half hours to 8 p.m. as soon as next year.

No conclusion is expected to be reached at the meeting. But the fact that the exchange is contemplating such a move demonstrates its concern over the growing volume of orders being placed after-hours through discount brokers -- and potentially traded independently of the exchange, committee members say